Hydraulic control means for loaders



June 18, 1968 w- MCKEAN wHrr JR 3,388,821

HYDRAULIC CONTROL/MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet1 v INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY WILLIAM MC. KEAN WHITE JR.

June 18, 1968 w. MCKEAN WHITE, JR 3,

HYDRAULIC CONTROL MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM Mc KEAN WHITE JR.

June 18; 1968 w. McKEAN WHITE, JR 3 ,388,821

HYDRAULIC CONTROL MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet5 a IIII'" /4 /4 i 1. I 56 1 a4,

I 36 z 24 V /Z 3 Z; /Z 57 a4 54 v INVENTOR. WILLIAM McKEAN WHITE JR.

ATTORNEY June 18, 1968 r w. M KEAN WHITE, JR 3,333,821

HYDRAULIC CONTROL MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM McKEAN WHITE JR.

ATTOR Y June 18, 1968 w, MCKEAN w T JR 3,388,821

HYDRAULIC CONTROL MEANS FOR LOADERS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet5 sac/(7- c YL moms 800M 6 Y1. woERS INVENTOR. WILL/AM MCKEAN WHITE JR.

BY ZKz/M ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fice Patented June 18, 19683,388,821 HYDRAULiC CONTROL MEANS FOR LOADERS William McKean White, Jru,Elkhart, Ind., assignor to The Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio,a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 581,206 4 Claims.(Cl. 214778) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hydraulic actuating means forwheeled loaders having two spaced levers shiftable fore and aft of theloader for controlling actuation of the loader wheels. Another lever islinked to each of said shiftable levers by means of an interconnectingpivoted handgrip which actuates one of either a loader bucket or a boomwhen shifted relative to the associated wheel control lever. The bucketand boom actuating levers are each shiftable with the associated wheelactuating levers in a manner to produce no actuation of the boom orbucket.

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic control means forloaders. More particularly, it relates to hydraulic control means forfour-wheel drive loaders in which the wheels are power-driven byindividual hydraulic motor means or in which drive means at each sidedrive the wheels at that side.

The improvement of this invention comprises a first set of control valvemeans for the selected distribution of hydraulic fluid to hydraulicmotor means operatively connected to wheel drive means or directly tothe loader wheels and a second set of control valve means for theselected distribution of hydraulic fluid to the loader boom and bucketactuators respectively. Each member of the second set of control valvemeans is adapted to be actuated in a fore and aft direction. Controllingthe operations of the first set of control valve means is a first pairof spaced levers pivoted and independently shiftable fore and aft. Ahandgrip is pivoted to one end of each member of said first pair oflevers to rock in a vertical plane. Controlling the operations of thesecond set of control valve means is a pair of spaced links. Each memberof the pair of links lies alongside a member of said first pair oflevers and connects a free end of an adjacent handgrip with a rockablevalve control member. Each member of the set of links swings insubstantially the same plane as the adjacent member of the first pair oflevers. Each rockable member is connected with the attached link to beshiftable by vertical rocking of said handgrip to actuate the rockablemember and the associated control valve which positions either the boomor the bucket, and being substantially stationary incident to actuationof the associated lever without vertical rocking of said handgrip.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel and simplemeans for controlling the driving, steering, load lifting and buckettilting actions of a loader.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a pairof controls arranged side by side, each correlated to and controllingthe wheel drive means at one side of the device, and each havingassociated therewith and shiftable therewith, but independentlymanipulable, a second control element for controlling one of thefunctions of elevating and tilting a work-carrying bucket.

A further object is to provide hydraulic control means of this characterutilizing a single control assembly for the selected control of twohydraulic valves, controlling operation of a loader and parts thereof,one of said valves being controlled by movement of a substantiallyvertical lever, and the other control valve being controlled by asubstantially horizontal control lever pivoted at the upper end. of thefirst lever and adapted to be grasped by the operator to selectivelycontrol both valves by a combination of push and pull actions each inthe direction in which the loader or a part thereof is to be operated.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specificatiou.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a loader utilizing my improvedcontrol, wherein the loader bucket and boom are in lowered positions.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a loader utilizing my improved controland illustrating the boom and bucket in elevated position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the drivers seat of aloader and my new controls, illustrating the relation of the controls toeach other and to the drivers seat;

FIG. 4 is a view of a loader in side elevation with the boom and bucketin lowered position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a loader utilizing my improved controls;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken online 66 of FIG. 5 and illustrating one of the controls and its relationto the valves controlled thereby;

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of one of the control valves for awheel driving motor and its connection to the control unit;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the hydraulic circuit for thewheel driving means of one embodiment of the loader; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of my newcontrols and the valves controlled thereby.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative hydrauliccircuit for a loader.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a modified drivearrangement for wheels at one side of a loader.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, the numeral 10 designates the frame or chassis of a loaderwhich is supported upon four wheels 12 each mounted upon a fixed axle.Each wheel 12 is provided with a hydraulic driving motor 14 of knowntype, adapted to operate the associated Wheel for forward drive orreverse drive, and having a neutral stationary position. The chassis 1t)mounts an operators seat 16, preferably intermediate the length thereof.Rear counterbalance weights 18 are mounted on the chassis. A suitablegasoline engine 26 is mounted upon the chassis and operates a pluralityof hydraulic pumps, such as pump 22. Preferably, one tandem pump or dualpumps (not shown) are connected in circuits leading to valves to controlthe elevation of the boom and tilting of the bucket, to be described.

The pump 22 in the wheel-driving circuit has connection with a rightwheel drive supply conduit 24 and with a left wheel drive supply conduit26. Conduit 24 communicates with a right wheel control valve 28, andconduit 26 communicates with a left wheel control valve 30. Each of thevalves 28 and 30 has a conduit 32 leading to the wheel drive motor 14associated with a front wheel, and a conduit 34 communicating with thewheel drive motor 14 associated with a rear wheel.

The conduits 32 and 34 provide for flow of liquid under pressure to theadjacent wheel motors for forward drive thereof. Other conduits 36, asseen in FIGS. 7 and 8, are connected with the adjacent wheel drivemotors 14 for supply of liquid under pressure for reverse operation orrotation of the wheels. Each of the motors 14 has a conduit 38 fordischarging fluid therefrom to a sump or reservoir 40, from which thepump 22 derives its supply of liquid through a conduit 42.

Each of the valves 28 and 30 for control of the wheel drive motors 14may be of the construction illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein an elongatedcylindrical valve housing 44 has the inlet port or conduit 24 connectedthereto substantially centrally thereof. The conduits 32, 34 for theforward operation of the Wheel drive motors are connected to valvehousing 44 adjacent the rear end thereof, and the conduits 36 for thereverse operation of the wheel drive motors are connected adjacent thefront of the valve housing. A valve stem 46 is slidable longitudinallyin the valve housing 44 and mounts a cylindrical seal-bearing disk 48normally interposed between the ports 24 and 32 and a secondseal-bearing disk 50 normally interposed between ports 24 and 36, saidnormal or neutral position being effected by spring means, such asspring 47. The disks 48 and 50 are spaced apart a distance less than thespacing of the conduit ports 32 and 36 and greater than the spacingbetween the port 24 and either of the other ports, such as 32 and 36.

The stem 46 projects from the valve housing 44 and is adapted forpivotal connection at 52 with a lever 54 projecting upwardly therefromand normally positioned at neutral by spring 47. The valves 28 and 30are preferably mounted upon the chassis at a sub-floor or low levelsupport 56 below an upper floor or support 58, and the levers 54 extendthrough an aperture in the upper floor 58 and each is pivoted thereto at60 and projects upwardly to a level convenient to the reach of anoperator sitting upon the seat 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thelevers 54 are pivoted to swing fore and aft, and when a lever 54 isswung forwardly by the operator, the valve stem 46 will be urgedrearwardly to open the ports 24 and 32 in communication for liquid flowto the correlated wheel motors 14 to effect forward drive of the wheelsat the side of the vehicle controlled by the actuated lever. Conversely,a rearward pull upon a lever 54 by the operator will move the valve stemforwardly to open into communication the ports 24 and 36 for liquid flowin a path to cause reverse or rearward drive of the wheels at the sideof the vehicle controlled by the actuated lever.

The vehicle frame 10 is provided with a pair of rear upwardly projectingrigid supports 62 adjacent each side thereof. To the upper end of eachsupport 62 is provided at 64 an elongated boom arm 66. The arm 66 arepreferably substantially L-shaped and include end portions 68 projectingdownwardly from gusset plates 70 in the normal or lowered position ofthe boom as illustrated in FIG. 4. Booms 66, 68 are rigid and each haspivotally connected thereto at 72 at its free end, a bracket 74 fixedlysecured to and projecting rearwardly from a scoop or bucket 76. One endof an extensible fluid pressure power member 78, preferably constitutinga cylinder and piston, is pivoted at 80 to the lower portion of eachupright projecting support 62. The other end of each power member, suchas piston rod 82, is pivotally connected at 84 to an intermediateportion of the boom, preferably at the gusset plates 70, as illustrated.Two power members 78 are preferably provided, one being located at eachside of the device, the same being similar and adapted to simultaneouslyapply lifting forces to the booms. The power members 78 are preferablyhydraulic and are controlled by a hydraulic valve, such as the valve 86,illustrated in FIG. 9.

A pair of extensible and retractable fluid pressure or hydraulic powermembers 90, each preferably including a cylinder and a piston therein,have connections between each boom and the bucket. Thus, one end of eachcylinder 90 may be pivoted to a boom intermediate the length thereof, asat or adjacent a gusset plate 70. The extensible piston rod 92 of member90 has pivotal connection at 94 with a bracket 96 projecting from thebucket 76. The power members 90 are preferably hydraulic and arecontrolled by a hydraulic valve, such as the valve 98, illustrated inFIG. 9.

Each of the valves 86 and 98 is preferably mounted upon the sub floor56, as illustrated in FIG. 9, with the valve 86 preferably being locatedadjacent to the lefthand lever 54, and the valve 98 preferably beinglocated adjacent to the righthand lever 54.

Brackets 100 mounted on sub-floor 56, journal a rock shaft 182 having aconnection at 104 with the slidable plunger of the shiftable part orstem of the valve 86. A rock arm 186 projects from shaft 102 toward thelever 54 and has pivotal connection by means of a clevis with asubstantially vertical rod or link 108 which is pivotally connected at110 to the forward end of lever 112 extending substantiallyhorizontallyand pivoted intermediate its ends at 114 on a horizontalaxis to the upper end of the lefthand lever 54. A hand grip 116 projectsrearwardly of the pivot 114, said hand grip being fixedly secured to thelever 112.

Juxtaposed to the valve 98 are brackets 120 mounted on sub-floor 56 andjournaling a rock shaft 122 carrying a connection 124 to the slidablevalve stem 126 of valve 98, as seen in FIG. 6. A rock arm 128, fixedlysecured to the rock shaft 122, is pivotally connected to a vertical rodor link 130 whose upper end is pivotally connected at 132 to a handlever 134 pivoted intermediate its ends at 136 on a horizontal axis tothe upper end of the righthand lever 54. A hand grip 138 is carried byand forms the rear end of the hand lever 134.

It will be understood that each of the valves 86 and 98 is connected ina circuit in which a pump driven by the engine 20 provides a source ofliquid under pressure adequate to operate the power member or members 78to lift the boom and the bucket under load and adequate to operate thepower member or members 90 to tilt the bucket and to maintain it inload-carrying position while loaded.

In the operation of the device, an operator assumes a position on theseat 16 and grasps the two hand grips 116 and 138. The openator is ableto control the speed of the engine. by means of accelerator pedal 140.When the two levers 54 are positioned in intermediate or neutralposition with the valves 28 and 30 adjusted as illustrate-d in FIG. 7,the loader is stationary. Forward swinging of the levers 54 will causean adjustment of the valves 28 and 30, which produces forward travel ofthe loader by actuation of hydraulic wheel motors 14. Similarly,rearward movement of the levers 54 from neutral position will causereverse operation of the loader by reverse operation by relativeoperation of the two levers 54. Thus, a turn to the right may beeffected by moving the left lever 54 forwardly beyond neutral position agreater distance than the right lever 54 is moved, and the degree orextent of difference of movement from neutral position determines thesharpness of the turn of the vehicle. It is also possible to make a verysharp turn in which the vehicle turns substantially in its length bymoving the two levers 54 in opposite directions from neutral position soas to cause the wheels at one side of the vehicle to move forwardly andthe wheels at the opposite side of the vehicle to move rearwardly. Thus,the device is rendered highly maneuver-able and readily controllablewith reference to direction of travel and for sharp turns in smallquarters.

The manipulation of the levers 54 to control fore and aft movement ofthe vehicle can be made without altering the position of the boomcontrol power member or members 78, and the bucket controlling powermember or members 90. As will be apparent from a consideration of FIG.6, only a slight deviation from a parallelogram arrangement of parts 54,130, and 134 producing only a slight 'hand grip lever 116 or 138. Thistilting operation can occur while the levers 54 are stationary or canoccur during the time that the levers 54, or either of them, are beingpivoted. Thus, as the operator approaches a load, he can pivot thelevers 54 forwardly to move the vehicle forwardly, and can observe theposition of the booms 66, 68 and the bucket 76. The operator can eitherraise or lower the booms 66, 68 as he approaches the load ofmanipulating the boom control valve 86 by pivoting the hand grip lever112, 116, hiring of hand grip 116 elevating the boom, and lowering ofhand grip 116 lowering the boom. Similarly, if he observes that thebucket 76 is not properly oriented to pick up a load as he approachesthe load, the operator can pivot the hand lever 134, 138 to properlyadjust the bucket control valve 98, i.e., lifting of hand grip 138 movesthe bucket to load carrying position and lowering of grip 138 tilts thebucket to discharging position.

It will be apparent that the operator is able to control the speed anddirection of travel of the vehicle, to make turns, to raise and lowerthe boom and to change the attitude or position of the bucket on theboom by a natural manipulation of the control devices according to thedirection of movement desired while maintaining a grip upon the handgrips 116 and 138. Thus at no time need the operator remove his handsfrom the hand grips 116, 138 in order to control the operation of thedevice.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. and 11.In this embodiment the Wheel drive is changed to that illustrated inFIG. 11, wherein the wheels 12 at the right side of the loader areillustrated as being mounted upon stub axles each suitably journaledupon the chassis 10 and each mounting a sprocket 152. Chains 154 aretrained around the sprockets 152 and also around drive sprockets 156mounted upon the output shaft 158 of a gear reducer 160 of a reversiblehydraulically actuated prime mover for driving the associated wheels atthe adjacent side of the vehicle. It will be understood that similardriving connections are provided for the driving wheels at the left sideof the vehicle.

A modified schematic hydraulic circuit is illustrated in FIG. 10particularly suitable for use in a loader having the Wheel driveilustrated in FIG. 11. In this circuit the motor for operating the rightwheels is associated with and controlled by valve 172. A similar leftwheel motor, 174, is controlled by a left wheel motor valve 176. Bothmotors 170 and 174 are hydraulic and reversible. The right wheel motor172 is connected in a circuit including a pump 178, a reservoir and afilter 182, by conduits 184. The left wheel motor 174, and its valve176, are connected in a circuit including a section 186 of a tandem pump188, a separate reservoir 190, and a filter 192 by circuit conduits 194.The tandem pump 188 has a section 196 connected by a conduit 1% to avalve 200 for controlling the operation of one or more extensiblehydraulic power members 202 for controlling the operation of the bucket76. Also, connected to the conduit 198, in series relation to the valve200, is a valve 204 for controlling the operation of one or moreextensible hydraulic power members 206 for operating the boom 66, 68.The conduit 198 is connected with conduit 194 for return connection tothe reservoir 190. The conduit 268 provides for return flow to reservoirfrom tandem pump section 196 in the event a relief valve 210 requiressuch flow.

This circuit entails the use of a tandem pump, separate reservoirs, andthe wheel drive of FIG. 11, but in other particulars, functions oraccommodates functioning of the units of the motor substantially in thesame manner described above.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it will be understood that changes in the constructionmaybe made within th scope of the appended claims without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Hydraulic actuating means for a multiple wheeled loader having anadjustable boom and a pivoted bucket, comprising:

a plurality of hydraulic motor means each operatively connected to aloader wheel;

a first set of control valve means for the, selected distribution ofhydraulic fluid to said hydraulic motor means in such a manner thatwheels on one side of the motor are controlled by one member of the setand the wheels on the opposite side of the loader are controlled by theother member of the set;

a second set of control valve means for the selected distribution ofhydraulic fluid, each member of the second set of control valve meansconnected to a hyd'raulic-valve-controlled power operated positioningmeans, one said positioning means being operatively connected to controlsaid boom, the other positioning means being operatively connected tocontrol said pivoted bucket, each member of the second set of controlvalve means being actuated in a fore and aft direction;

pump means for supplying fluid to said first and second sets of controlvalve means;

a first pair of spaced members, each controlling the operations of amember of the first set of control valve means and constituting pivotedlevers independently shiftable fore and aft;

a pair of handgrip levers, normally positioned to extend longitudinallyof the loader, each pivoted intermediate its end to an end of one memberof said first pair of spaced levers on an axis substantially parallel tothe pivotal axis of said member lever and swinging in a substantiallyvertical plane;

a second pair of spaced members, each controlling the operations of amember of the second set of control valve means and including a linkalongside one member of said first pair of spaced levers connecting afree end of an adjacent handgrip with a rockable member;

each of said links being carried by and adjustable in substantially thesame plane as a member of said first pair of spaced levers;

each rockable member being connected to one of said second set ofcontrol valves;

each said link being shiftable in one path by said vertical swinging ofsaid handgrip to actuate said rockable member and the associated one ofthe second set of control valve means and in another path substantiallyindependent of said control valve member;

whereby the wheel hydraulic motor means at one side of the loader andone of said boom positioning means and bucket positioning means can beadjusted selectively, independently and jointly by manipulation of eachhandgrip.

2. Hydraulic actuating means for a multiple Wheeled loader having anadjustable boom and a pivoted bucket, comprising:

a pair of flexible drive means each operatively connected to wheels onone side only of the loader;

a pair of hydraulic motor means, each operatively connected to one ofsaid flexible drive means;

a first control valve means for selectively controlling distribution ofhydraulic fluid to one of said hydraulic motor means;

a second control valve means for selectively controlling distribution ofhydraulic fluid to the other of said hydraulic motor means;

a boom control valve means;

a bucket control valve means;

a pump means connected to said first, second, boom and bucket controlvalve means;

said boom control valve means including a part shiftable fore and aft;

said bucket control valve means including a part shiftable fore and aft;

a pair of spaced levers shiftable fore and aft and each controlling theoperations of one of said first and second control valve means;

a pair of handgrip levers normally extending longitudinally of saidloader, each pivoted intermediate its ends to one of said spaced leverson an axis substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of said lever andswinging in a substantially vertical plane;

a pair of shiftable members, one controlling the operations of said boomcontrol valve means and the other controlling the operations of saidbucket control valve means, each shiftable member including a linkalongside one of said levers and connected to a free end of an adjacenthandgrip and a rockable member;

each of said links being carried by and adjustable in substantially thesame plane as the adjacent lever;

one rockable member being connected to said boom control valve means andthe other rockable member being connected to said bucket control valvemeans;

each said link being shiftable substantially vertically by said handgripto actuate the associated rockable member and being shiftable fore andaft substantially independently of said associated rockable member;

whereby the hydraulic motor means at each side of the loader and one ofsaid boom and bucket control valve means can be adjusted selectively,independently and jointly by manipulation of said handgn'p in thedirection of desired movement of the means controlled thereby.

3. The hydraulic actuating means for a multiple wheeled loader asdefined in claim 2, wherein said first and second control valve meanseach include parts shiftable fore and aft, each said first and secondcontrol valve means bieng displaced aft of the pivotal axis of theassociated lever, each of said boom and bucket control valve membersbeing disposed forwardly of one of said first and second control valvemembers.

4. The hydraulic actuating means for multiple wheeled loader as definedin claim 2, wherein each of said boom and bucket control valve meansincludes:

a housing having an elongated chamber and a. plurality of conduit portsin communication with said chamber, first and second ports each beingdisposed adjacent opposite ends of said chamber and a third port beingdisposed between said first and second ports;

a valve stem extending longitudinally in said chamber and projectingexteriorly of said housing and pivotally connected to said rockablemember, said stem being slidable fore and aft of said loader;

a pair of sealing valve disks mounted upon said valve stem in spacedrelation of less than the spacing between first and second ports andgreater than the spacing between said third port and said first andsecond ports so that when said disks are positioned by said valve stembetween first and second ports, there is no fluid communication betweenports, and when the said disks are shifted by said stem, one of saidfirst and second ports is placed in fluid communication with said thirdport.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,154,164 10/1964 Shaw et al.-6.48 X 3,319,817 5/1967 Juhl et a1. 214778 HUGO O. SCHULZ, PrimaryExaminer.

